Last week I mentioned, I've been obsessing over generic drug manufacturing.

This isn't an out-of-the-blue Karl Schmieder obsession. I've worked on communications projects for biopharma manufacturers and, for about a decade, have written about quality control issues associated with foreign manufacturers.

You would probably guess that it's easy to tell a story when times are good. The biggest challenge then is that everyone else is telling a good story. When there's a crisis and the world's been turned upside down, that's when leaders and their stories matter most. Here's why:

At Messaginglab, we value communications and connections.

I started this company to help life sciences companies better communicate with their audiences. The 2020 COVID-19 pandemic feels like one of those times when stories are more important than ever.

As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds, I want to take a moment to share a few thoughts and updates on what I am doing to serve you and my clients.

In 1916, a group of exiled European artists gathered in Zurich and started an art movement that would change the world.

Unhappy with the violence and the horror of the first World War, the artists rejected logic, reason, and modern capitalism.

Birthed at the Cabaret Voltaire, the movement was called Dada.

I teach a class on thought leadership, I always open by saying "Everyone in this room is a leader."

And I always get blank stares. 

Every. Time.

The response we got from that article is rare. But the article itself worked because it was really, really good.

What are the elements that made the piece so successful?

Let me tell you so that you can think about this the next time you’re creating a piece of content for your audience. It was...

According to our recent survey, 80% of our subscribers do not have a written marketing or communications plan.

80%.

That's pretty astounding. 

Without a plan, you have no direction. It's like trying to get someplace new without a map.